MEAT PRICE INCREASES AS RAMADAN COMMENCES The price of one of the most highly sought food items in the markets during the period of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has risen. Meat, alongside the other basic food commodities, is also not spared in the spate of recent price increases. This reporter visited the Serekunda market to find out the cost of the different types of meat. Talking to Mr. Kolleh Barry, the head of the butchers at the Serekunda market abbatoir, he said the price of meat has increased due to the high cost of cattle and the other small ruminants such as sheep and goats as well as the other unavoidable expenses. He said a kilo of meat and bone costs D140 while half a kilo costs D75. He said beef steak stands at D180 per kilo; that the kilo of mutton (sheep) is D150 and the half kilo of goat meat costs D75. Barry disclosed that the normal size cattle can cost over D50,000, while sheep and goat can cost between D3,000 to D6,000, depending on the sizes. The other unavoidable expenses, said the head of the Serekunda butchers, include the transportation of the animal which costs D150, the slaughter fee of D235 and the daily payment of D15 as duty to Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC). At the main abattoir in Abuko, the kilo of meat and bone costs D135 and half a kilo is D70. For goat meat and mutton (sheep), explained the butcher, the prices are D140 for the kilo and D75 for the half kilo. He added that as for beef steak, it costs D175 per kilo. He also lamented the high cost of the animals and the slaughter fees, adding that they pay daily duty to the Council. The prices of meat are also the same at the market and butchers shops around Latrikunda. UPDATE ON FOOD PRICES IN BANJUL In a bid to monitor the prices of commodities in the market, with a view to provide regular updates on these consumer goods for the purpose of informing consumers as well as highlighting the state of prices at the market; this reporter visited the main business/shopping centre in the capital city of Banjul, which is also the main transit point for imported goods. Speaking to the business people engaged in both wholesale and retail of food commodities, one Ali Sowe, informed this reporter that the buying and selling prices of the various brands of food items that are on sale are as follows: 50kg bag of the American rice brand is bought at D1,025 and sells at D1,050, 50 kg of African rice is bought at D970 and sells at D990,25kg Chef Rice at is bought at D490 and sells at D500 or D510, 50kg Camel rice is bought at D970 and sells at D990, 50kg Sadam rice is sold at D1,500 and the retail price per cup is D8.00 or D9.00. He said the 50kg crystal moist Sugar is bought at D1,250 and is selling at the retail price of D30per kg. On the other food items, Mr. Sowe gave the prices as thus: 20litres ‘Viking’ brand cooking Oil is bought at D865 and sells at D900 or D875, ‘WALGUST’ Tomato paste is bought at D680 and sells at D120 per tin,400g ‘SAMBA’ Tomato paste is bought at D480 and sells at D20.00 per tin. As for a bag of Irish Potatoes, it is bought at D675 and is selling at D35 per kg, a 42kg bag of Onions is bought at D1,150 and sells at D30 per kg. “I used to have a profit of D55 after selling a bag of onions on retail basis, but it is now difficult to get such profit. I sometimes have to even add my own money to be able to buy another bag,” Said Mr.Sowe. He also cited the increases in transport fares and said this development is going to indirectly affect their trade. “Nothing is cheap now in the country,” he lamented. Amadou Jang Bah, another shop owner in Banjul, gave his prices as follows: ‘American’ rice brand is bought at D1,010 and is selling at D1,025, the ‘Sadam’ rice brand is bought at D1,475 and sells at D1,490, ‘CAMEL’ rice D1,000 and sells at D1,020, ‘Chomo’ rice is bought at D1,240 and sells at D1,250, a bag of sugar is bought at D1,245 and sells at D1,250, a bag of Irish Potatoes is bought at D650 and sells at D30 per kilo and a bag of Onions is bought at D480 and sells at D25 per kg. As for cooking oil, he said the ‘TABIBI’ brand is bought at D1,235 and sells at D1,250, the ‘Yete Jallow’ Oil is bought at D860 and sells at D870 or D875, the ‘Trikey’ Oil is bought at D835 and sells at D850, the ‘HAYAI’ Oil is at bought D830 and sells at D845, the ‘JANTOU’ Oil is bought at D830 and sells at D845. The tomato paste, said Jang Bah, is bought at D1,200 and sells at D1300 or D110 per ton. “We the people in business are facing difficulties like everybody else, because if you buy your stuff, you must pay transport, taxes and other expenses on it and if you are a family man, you are obliged to be paying school fees, giving out fish money, paying house rent etc. And unlike before, the prices of almost everythingare increasing because of the taxes levied on the goods,” he lamented.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 17:12:53 +0000
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